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Working on a folk songs list
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You’d think it would be easy to come up wtih 12 American patriotic songs to teach the kids over the years, right? Nope! LOL I could use 2 more. Here’s what I have so far:
Star-Spangled Banner
America the Beautiful
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
Battle Hymn of the Republic
This Is My Country
Yankee Doodle
God Bless America
This Land Is Your Land
You’re a Grand Old Flag
God Bless the USA
While we’re on the subject of folk songs, how do you choose which folk songs to teach? I have been scouring the internet, but lots of them are just “kid songs” that I sing anyway to the kids, especially the youngest crowd. I have a few old songs I found that I love, but most of them I’ve never even heard of, or at least can’t place the tune/lyrics. I looked at the AO website, but I only knew like 2 or 3 from their list.
I don’t know if you’re only interested in patriotic song, but I always enjoyed The Erie Canal and Polly Wolly Doodle. I loved folk songs growing up and I know there are more in my old brain that I’ll try to dig out. This Land is Your Land, which you have, was a favorite of mine as well.
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Hail Columbia (here’s the music, might help with the syllabification)
The American Folk Song Collection at Holy Names University has a nice search engine (it can be extremely detailed if you’re a musician, and as simple as choosing a subject and possibly a song type if you’re not). You can hear/see the music and lyrics, which is helpful for the ones that you only vaguely remember, or if you want to learn a new one along with your child(ren).
We have thoroughly enjoyed Homestead Pickers. It’s a busy/not-so-user-friendly site, so click on “CDs, DVDs, and Merchandise” and from there is a link to “The Homeschoolers Folksong Collection”. Someone at AO recommended this and we’ve been wonderfully pleased. These are not patriotic necessarily but definitely well loved.
Sara,
Are you still looking for patriotic songs?
We just learned about the song “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean” after reading the poem in our Primary Language Lessons book. I had heard the tune before, but didn’t realize it had words!
~Anna
Thanks for all the ideas! My mom has a few CDs with some songs on it, too, so now I have lots to choose from.
Anna, I’ve never heard that song, but I love it! I put that one down as a for sure. Thanks! 🙂
Pianogirl – so funny you say that. My son was studying the poem a few months ago, and as he’s reciting it, I could almost hear the tune in my head, but couldn’t figure out why!! Once I heard the song, I recognized it! My Pop Pop had a bunch of old cartoons when I was a kid that I would watch, and that song was on so many of the cartoons! (WW2 Era cartoons) I didn’t realize that it came from a poem first, and wouldn’t have without Primary Language Lwssons!
I’m wondering if anyone has additional cd resources for folk songs, either patriotic or otherwise? I hardly recognize any of the Homestead Pickers ones though the singing seems nice, and the Wee Sing cds… I’m not particularly fond of high pitch kiddie style singing.
I really want to start adding folk songs to our family studies but I just need a book or cd or something to give me a starting list with tunes to get me up and running.
I am using “Go In and Out the Window” with my younger children this year. Sadly, it is out of print. However, I’m sure you could find a used copy for sale or possibly a library copy. It is also “illustrated” with beautiful works of art.
have you tried searching bethsmusicnotes.blogspot.com site? She’s a music teacher – she includes music, lessons plans, etc. But she has a fantastic bunch of songs from other cultures, folk songs (American), patriotic songs, Christmas songs, etc. Often she also links to youtube or recordings of the songs, too.
Can you tell where I live?? 
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